Canal hearing device with tubular insert

• US 6,724,902 B1
• Filed: 04/29/1999
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Shennib, Adnan, Urso, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENDLETON, DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US09/303,086
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/324, 381/325, 381/328, 381/329, 381/323, 600/25, 607/56, 607/57
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/11 Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

A canal hearing device with a dual acoustic seal system for preventing feedback while minimizing occlusion effects. The two-part device comprises a main module and an elongated tubular insert for conducting sound to the tympanic membrane and sealing within the bony region of the ear canal. The main module is positioned in the cartilaginous portion of the ear canal. The tubular insert comprises a sound conduction tube and a cylindrically hollow primary seal medially positioned in the bony region. The device also comprises a secondary seal laterally positioned in the cartilaginous region. The secondary seal, although providing additional acoustic sealing for the prevention of feedback, is sufficiently vented to provide a path of least acoustic resistance for occlusion sounds within the ear canal. In a preferred embodiment, the tubular insert comprises a coiled skeletal frame to provide high radial flexibility while maintaining sufficient axial rigidity for comfortable, kink-resistant, and consistent placement within the ear canal.

Claims

1. A canal hearing device comprising:

a main module, and a tubular insert axially connected to said main module;

said main module comprising a housing including a receiver for producing sound, said main module being constructed and adapted to be at least partially positioned in the cartilaginous part of an ear canal of a wearer of said device;

said tubular insert comprising a sound conduction tube having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said ear canal, said sound conduction tube being constructed and adapted to be positioned in said ear canal for delivering sound produced by said receiver toward and in proximity of the tympanic membrane of said wearer;

a primary seal concentrically positioned over said sound conduction tube to seal said car canal in the bony part thereof and to form a first space between said primary seal and said tympanic membrane, and a secondary seal positioned laterally of said primary seal to provide scaling in the cartilaginous part of said ear canal and to form a second space between said secondary seal and said primary seal when said canal hearing device is worn in said ear canal; and

a venting system including a relatively small pressure vent associated with said primary seal, and a relatively larger occlusion-relief vent associated with said secondary seal to acoustically connect said second space to space outside of said ear canal, said occlusion-relief vent constituting a path of least acoustic resistance for leaking occlusion sounds relative to said pressure vent;

whereby, when said canal hearing device is worn in said ear canal, said venting system provides substantial acoustic sealing of sound delivered in said first space, while simultaneously attenuating said occlusion sounds by directing said occlusion sounds away from said tympanic membrane.

2. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said tubular insert is constructed and adapted to be disposable for selective replacement thereof.

3. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said tubular insert is radially flexible and axially sufficiently rigid for proper insertion of said device in said car canal.

4. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said tubular insert possesses structural characteristics of being kink-resistant and non-collapsible when said device is inserted in said ear canal.

5. The canal hearing device of claim 4, wherein:

said sound conduction tube includes a skeletal frame incorporated therein to at least partially achieve said structural characteristics of said tubular insert.

6. The canal hearing device of claim 4, wherein:

said sound conduction tube includes circular, longitudinal, helical or braided elements therein to at least partially achieve said structural characteristics of said tubular insert.

7. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said tubular insert has generic configurations and sizes, to accommodate any of a variety of ear canal sizes and shapes.

8. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said tubular insert comprises multiple tubing for use either in multiple channel sound conduction or venting.

9. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said sound conduction tube is at least 8 mm in length.

10. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said sound conduction tube has an inside diameter not greater than 2 mm.

11. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said sound conduction tube is constructed and adapted to provide a boost for conducted sounds at the high range of audiometric frequencies.

12. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said pressure vent is in the form of a hole, cavity, slit, or tube having a diameter or width not greater than 0.5 mm.

13. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said pressure vent is incorporated directly on said primary seal.

14. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said pressure vent is indirectly incorporated along said sound conduction lube or a connector associated with said sound conduction tube.

15. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said sound conduction tube is constructed and adapted to extend medially past the primary seal toward said tympanic membrane, when said canal hearing device is worn in said ear canal.

16. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said primary seal and said secondary seal is hollow and of generally cylindrical shape.

17. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said primary seal and said secondary seal is flanged, mushroom shaped, or clustered.

18. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

the cross sectional perimeter of at least one of said primary seal and said secondary seal is either circular, elliptical, or oval and inferiorly pointed.

19. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said primary seal and said secondary seal is constructed and adapted to contact the walls of said ear canal with a span of at least 2 mm longitudinally, when said canal hearing device is worn in said ear canal.

20. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said main module has a generic shape.

21. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said main module is substantially vented.

22. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said main module further comprises a receiver section having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said ear canal, to allow insertion of said main module into the cartilaginous part of said ear canal medially past the aperture thereof.

23. The canal hearing device of claim 22, wherein:

said receiver section comprises a medial connector for removably connecting to said tubular insert.

24. The canal hearing device of claim 23, wherein:

said medial connector comprises either a snap-on, threaded, spring-loaded, pressure-fit, or side-slide mating mechanism.

25. The canal hearing device of claim 22, wherein:

said tubular insert further includes a tube connector for concentric coaxial connection of said receiver section to said tubular insert.

26. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said secondary seal provides physical support for either the main module or the tubular insert.

27. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said occlusion-relief vent comprises a cross sectional area at least 3 times that of said pressure vent.

28. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said occlusion-relief vent is configured to provide acoustic impedance at least 10 decibels less than the acoustic impedance of said pressure vent for frequencies below 500 hz.

29. The canal hearing device of claim 1, further including:

manual control means associated with said device for manually adjusting at least one parameter thereof.

30. The canal hearing device of claim 1, further including:

remote control means associated with said device for remotely controlling or adjusting at least one parameter thereof.

31. The canal hearing device of claim 30, wherein:

said remote control means comprises one or more latchable reed switches within said main module, and an external control magnet for operation of said one or more latchable reed switches to effect said control or adjustment.

32. The canal hearing device of claim 1, further including:

means associated with said device for programming thereof.

33. The canal hearing device of claim 32, further including:

an electrical connector associated with said device for programming thereof.

34. The canal hearing device of claim 32, further including:

wireless connection means associated with said device for programming thereof.

35. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said device is adapted for hearing enhancement of a hearing impaired wearer.

36. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

said device is adapted for audio communications.

37. The canal hearing device of claim 36, further including:

electrical connector means associated with said device for connection to an external audio device.

38. The canal hearing device or claim 1, further including:

wireless interface means associated with said device for receiving wireless signals.

39. A tubular insert adapted for axial connection to a hearing device, said tubular insert comprising:

a sound conduction tube constructed and adapted to be positioned in an ear canal of a wearer of said device for delivering sound produced by said device toward and in proximity of the tympanic membrane of said wearer,

a primary seal concentrically positioned over said sound conduction tube to seal said ear canal in the bony part thereof and to form a first space between said primary seal and said tympanic membrane, and a secondary seal concentrically positioned over said sound conduction tube laterally of said primary seal to provide sealing in the cartilaginous part of said ear canal and to form a second space between said secondary seal and said primary seal when said tubular insert is worn in said ear canal; and

a venting system including a relatively small pressure vent associated with said primary seal, and a relatively larger occlusion-relief vent associated with said secondary seal to acoustically connect said second space to space outside of said ear canal, said occlusion-relief vent constituting a path of least acoustic resistance for leaking occlusion sounds relative to said pressure vent;

whereby, when said tubular insert is worn in said ear canal, said venting system provides substantial acoustic sealing for sound delivered in said first space, while simultaneously attenuating occlusion sounds in said first space by directing said occlusion sounds away from said tympanic membrane.

40. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said tubular insert is constructed and adapted to be disposable for selective replacement thereof.

41. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said tubular insert is radially flexible and axially sufficiently rigid for proper insertion of said tubular insert in said ear canal.

42. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said tubular insert is constructed and adapted to possess structural characteristics of kink-resistance and non-collapse when inserted in said ear canal.

43. The tubular insert of claim 42, wherein:

said sound conduction tube includes a skeletal frame incorporated therein to at least partially produce said structural characteristics.

44. The tubular insert of claim 42, wherein:

said sound conduction tube includes circular, longitudinal, helical or braided elements therein to at least partially produce said structural characteristics.

45. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said tubular insert has generic configurations and sizes to accommodate any of a variety of ear canal sizes and shapes.

46. The tubular insert of claim 39, including:

multiple tubing for either multiple channel sound conduction or venting.

47. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said sound conduction tube is at least 8 mm in length.

48. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said sound conduction tube has an inside diameter not greater than 2 mm.

49. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said sound conduction tube is constructed and adapted to provide a boost for conducted sounds at the high range of audiometric frequencies.

50. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said pressure vent is in the form of a hole, cavity, slit, or tube having a diameter or width not greater than 0.5 mm.

51. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said pressure vent is incorporated directly on said primary seal.

52. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said pressure vent is indirectly incorporated along said sound conduction tube or a connector associated with said sound conduction tube.

53. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said sound conduction tube is constructed and adapted to extend medially past said primary seal toward said tympanic membrane, when said tubular insert is worn in said ear canal.

54. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

at least one of said primary seal and said secondary seal is hollow and of generally cylindrical shape.

55. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

at least one of said primary seal and said secondary seal is flanged, mushroom shaped, or clustered.

56. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

the cross sectional perimeter of at least one of said primary seal and said secondary seal is either circular, elliptical, or oval and inferiorly pointed.

57. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

at least one of said primary seal and said secondary seal is constructed and adapted to contact the walls of said ear canal with a span of at least 2 mm longitudinally, when said tubular insert is worn in said ear canal.

58. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

at least one of said primary seal and said secondary seal further comprises medication material selected from a group including anti-bacterial and anti-microbial agents.

59. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

at least one of said primary seal and said secondary seal further comprises lubricant to facilitate insertion and removal of said tubular insert into and from said ear canal.

60. The tubular insert of claim 39, including:

means for removably connecting said tubular insert to a receiver section within said hearing device.

61. The tubular insert of claim 60, wherein:

said connecting means comprises a snap-on, threaded, spring-loaded, pressure-fit, or side-slide mating mechanism.

62. The tubular insert of claim 60, further including:

a tube connector for concentric coaxial connection of said tubular insert over said receiver section.

63. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said occlusion-relief vent comprises a cross sectional area at least 3 times that of said pressure vent.

64. The tubular insert of claim 39, wherein:

said occlusion-relief vent is configured to provide acoustic impedance at least 10 decibels less than the acoustic impedance of said pressure vent for frequencies below 500 hz.

65. The tubular insert of claim 39, including:

means adapting said tubular insert for hearing enhancement of a hearing impaired wearer.

66. The tubular insert of claim 39, including:

means adapting said tubular insert for audio communications.

67. A canal hearing device comprising:

a main module, and a tubular insert axially connected to said main module;

said main module comprising a housing including a receiver for producing sound, said main module being constructed and adapted to be at least partially positioned in the cartilaginous part of an ear canal of a wearer of said device;

said tubular insert comprising a sound conduction tube having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said ear canal, said sound conduction tube being constructed and adapted to be positioned in said ear canal for delivering sound produced by said receiver toward and in proximity of the tympanic membrane of said ear canal, and a primary seal concentrically positioned over said sound conduction tube to seal said ear canal and to form a first space between said primary seal and said tympanic membrane when said device is worn in said ear canal, said primary seal having an associated pressure vent for said first space;

said main module further comprising a secondary seal to provide sealing in the cartilaginous part of said ear canal lateral to said primary seal and forming a second space between said primary and secondary seals when said main module and said tubular insert are connected and worn in said ear canal, and an occlusion-relief vent acoustically connecting said second space to space outside of said car canal, said occlusion-relief vent constituting a path of least acoustic resistance relative to said pressure vent;

whereby, when said canal hearing device is worn in said ear canal, said primary and secondary seals and occlusion-relief vent, in combination, provide substantial acoustic sealing of sound delivered in said first space, while simultaneously attenuating occlusion sounds by directing said occlusion sounds away from said tympanic membrane.

68. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said tubular insert is constructed and adapted to be disposable for selective replacement thereof.

69. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said tubular insert is radially flexible and axially sufficiently rigid for proper insertion of said device in said ear canal.

70. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said tubular insert has structural characteristics of being kink-resistant and non-collapsible when said device is inserted in said ear canal.

71. The canal hearing device of claim 70, wherein:

said sound conduction tube includes a skeletal frame incorporated therein to at least partially produce said structural characteristics of said tubular insert.

72. The canal hearing device of claim 70, wherein:

said sound conduction tube includes circular, longitudinal helical or braided elements therein to at least partially produce said structural characteristics of said tubular insert.

73. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said tubular insert has generic configurations and sizes to accommodate any of a variety of ear canal sizes and shapes.

74. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said tubular insert comprises multiple tubing for either conduction of multiple channel sound or venting.

75. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said sound conduction tube is at least 8 mm in length.

76. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said sound conduction tube has an inside diameter not greater than 2 mm.

77. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said sound conduction tube is constructed and adapted to provide a boost for conducted sounds at the high range of audiometric frequencies.

78. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said pressure vent is in the form of a hole, cavity, slit, or tube having a diameter or width not greater than 0.5 mm.

79. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said pressure vent is incorporated directly on said primary seal.

80. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said pressure vent is indirectly incorporated along said sound conduction tube or a connector associated with said sound conduction tube.

81. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said sound conduction tube is constructed and adapted to extend medially past said primary seal toward said tympanic membrane, when said canal hearing device is worn in said ear canal.

82. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said primary seal is hollow and of generally cylindrical shape.

83. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said primary seal is flanged, mushroom shaped, or clustered.

84. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

the cross sectional perimeter of said primary seal is either circular, elliptical, or oval and inferiorly pointed.

85. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said primary seal is constructed and adapted to contact the walls of said ear canal with a span of at least 2 mm longitudinally, when said canal hearing device is worn in said ear canal.

86. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said main module has a generic shape.

87. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said main module is substantially vented for occlusion relief.

88. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said main module further comprises a receiver section having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said ear canal, for insertion of said main module into the cartilaginous part of said ear canal medially past the aperture thereof.

89. The canal hearing device of claim 88, wherein:

said receiver section comprises a medial connector for removably connecting to said tubular insert.

90. The canal hearing device of claim 89, wherein:

said medial connector comprises either a snap-on, threaded, spring-loaded, pressure-fit, or side-slide mating mechanism.

91. The canal hearing device of claim 88, wherein:

said tubular insert further includes a tube connector for concentric coaxial connection of said receiver section to said tubular insert.

92. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said occlusion-relief vent comprises a cross sectional area at least 3 times that of said pressure vent.

93. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said occlusion-relief vent is configured to provide acoustic impedance at least 10 decibels less than the acoustic impedance of said pressure vent for frequencies below 500 hz.

94. The canal hearing device of claim 67, further including:

manual control means associated with said device for manually adjusting at least one parameter thereof.

95. The canal hearing device of claim 67, further including:

remote control means associated with said device for remotely controlling or adjusting at least one parameter thereof.

96. The canal hearing device of claim 95, wherein:

said remote control means comprises one or more latchable reed switches within said main module, and an external control magnet for operation of said one or more latchable reed switches to effect said control or adjustment.

97. The canal hearing device of claim 67, further including:

means associated with said device for programming thereof.

98. The canal hearing device of claim 97, further including:

an electrical connector associated with said device for programming thereof.

99. The canal hearing device of claim 97, further including:

wireless connection means associated with said device for programming thereof.

100. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said device is adapted for hearing enhancement of a hearing impaired wearer.

101. The canal hearing device of claim 67, wherein:

said device is adapted for audio communications.

102. The canal hearing device of claim 101, further including:

electrical connector means associated with said device for connection to an external audio device.

103. The canal hearing device of claim 67, further including:

wireless interface means associated with said device for receiving wireless signals.